River Cities Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I started second row to the front behind a group of 5-6 guys. My plan was to start strong and try to draft off this group since they looked like decent swimmers. After the first 50 meters a sighted to see how I was with the group and noticed that they had dropped me. I was in a group of 4-5 others and stayed with them until the first turn and then we started to spread out. I had the funniest thing happen to me on the swim that has never happened before and I was not prepared for it and it through me off for awhile. I sneezed while swimming! Totally unexpected and violently into the water. I startled me and made me laugh at the amount of air that came out. I had to briefly stop my stroke and do about 4-5 breast strokes to get my breathing back. After that, I had a ok swim but not what I wanted (14 minutes).

Not much, wish I was in an earlier wave?

Long run into T1 from the beach but had a pool to clean off the sand on the run. My bike was on the last rack from the entrance but close to the exit. I had a good transition getting on my glasses and helmet. My shoes were on my pedals and rubberbanded into place.

Nothing

This was my first race on my new bike (Cervelo P3 SL-2004) with Zipp 909 wheels. The disc was awesome and helpful on the downhill and straight aways. I was passing people constantly. I had 4-5 guys in my AG pass me but 3 of them were in a pace line and, I think, they got penalties based on the results. I dropped my Accel gel at mile 10 and started to bonk towards the end but had fun on the last segment as we had cars on the course and I was able to pass a Porche! Boy did that feel good.

Have a back-up Accel gel and go harder when drinking.

Another good transition and it felt good to get into my area and not see many bikes on the racks. Shoes on (no socks) race belt on and hat on with no problems. I had put down an extra Accel gel and took off with it as I left T2. I had trouble opening the package, probably from the near bonk, and had to stop running and walk to the water station.

Not walk as I ate the Accel gel that I needed so badly.

The knot in my left quad is still flaring up with intense exercise and it started to hurt after 1 mile. I tried to run through it and let the Accel gel hit my system. I also tried to stick to just water on the 5k (piece of advice from a Pro Triathlete for sprints) but they had Amino Vital on the run course and it was difficult to tell one from the other (both are clear). A nice benefit of the course were ice cold towels at one water stop. That help revive me and I pretty much ran the rest of the way at a faster pace. The only complaint I have of the course is the finish on the run. I don't like having the last part of the race downhill ( I like the downhill part) and in the sand. The last 50 yards were in 5-6 inch sand on the beach and it was hard and seemed dangerous as people were sprinting down the hill to the finish.

Take Accel gel sooner than T2 and increase my run training.

Jumped in the lake!


Dropped Accel gel on the bike, slightly tight left quad and not enough fast twitch muscle fibers.


There is a reason why this is the #1 rated Sprint triathlon in the South and one of the top ten Triathlons in the USA. The goody bag is, BY FAR, the best goody bag you will get. The swim is well marked and easy to sight. The bike course is on another level from other races. It's simply made for Triathlons. It would be incredile if all traffic was diverted but understand you can't do that. The run was shaded and well marked with plenty of aid stations and cold towels soaking in ice. If you are looking for a race that has all that a race should have, this is it. Also, the kids race on Saturday was a dream for my 8 year old's first triathlon. She says she is hooked for life!